Valley Girl Views: When There Were Christmas Train Rides In Cameron Park, Sunbury Pa

The Train was one of several "kiddie rides" set up in Cameron Park for the holiday shopping season in 1949 & 1950. The rides, which came from Rolling Green Park, were provided by the Sunbury Merchants. Tickets for the rides were given to shoppers when they made purchases in the downtown stores.

"Sunbury Chamber of Commerce will sponsor "Santa Claus Playland" in Cameron Park during the holiday season and children of the community who visit and shop in Sunbury will be delighted with the playland, which will be set up in the park for their enjoyment. Free tickets will be provided by Sunbury merchants to people who visit their stores for the three kiddie rides, which will include Kiddie Buggy Ride, Kiddie Whip and the Pennsylvania Railroad Trail Blazer, miniature train. These rides were secured from Rolling Green Park by special request of the Sunbury Chamber of Commerce."

December 1949

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And in 1949, he came in the form of a Sunbury businessman.

On December 10th 1949, The Daily Item reported:

"But some children it seemed, had daddies who could not make early purchases this year. Possibly, their paychecks hadn't arrived yet.

Consequently, as the little train chugged around Cameron Park with delighted passengers, there were always tots on the outside looking longfully at what was in progress. Some, perhaps, thought they would never be able to take a ride on the train, so they did the next best thing by crowding around it."

Their wistful glances, the way they pointed at it, were a touching sight. And then, the second, happier half of the story emerged.

Overlooking the park is a business office. A member of this establishment, strictly a business man, whose identity remains anonymous, saw the unhappy children looking fondly at the little train in cold weather. He was conquered by the circumstances.

Down the track he went Inquiry brought forth that the tickets were available at a cost of four cents each. - "Twenty dollars worth," he ordered. That's 500 tickets, also 500 happy kiddies. He went back to the office and said to another worker who had first seen the children, "Here, you give out these tickets when you see them standing there." The boss of that place was interested, too, and arrangements have now been worked out to see that the train has frequent passengers. '

The three principals in the story won't be riding the train. They won't see all the children ride that train, but their Christmas this year will be brighter, happier, in giving 500 children a brighter, happier Christmas"

$20 in 1949 equals roughly $200 in 2020.

Just a few days later, 9 year old Arthur Lippett was run over by the miniature train in Cameron Park

In 1950, it was announced that the rides, which were furnished by the Sunbury Merchants were set up and ready, but that no tickets would be sold at the park this year, tickets could only be obtained in local stores.

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